09/24/2004, 00.00
INDIA
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Terrorists are more united that democratic nations, Singh says at UN

PM voices only indirect criticism at Washington but makes a commitment to Iraq's security and reconstruction.

New York (AsiaNews) – "It is a sad reality that international networks of terror appear to co-operate more effectively among themselves that the democratic nations that they target," India's new Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in his first speech to the United Nations. "We speak about co-operation, but seem often hesitant to commit ourselves to a truly global offensive to root out terrorism, with the pooling of resources, exchange of information, sharing of intelligence," the Prime Minister said.

According to Singh the United Nations itself must be reformed from within. It must be committed to its own democratisation and become an "effective voice through which the world speaks." For this reason, he considers it necessary that India, Japan, Brazil and Germany become permanent members of the United Nations.

In veiled terms Singh criticised the US handling of the ongoing international crisis. The world should avoid "selective approaches and political expediency" in the fight against terrorism. In another clear hint at the US, he said that "it is through representative institutions rather than through exclusive clubs of privileged countries that we can address global threats posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction".

According to some analysts, the international community responded favourably to India's implicit arms' length approach to the US which dates back to last year's Iraq war.

On Iraq, Prime Minister Singh reiterated what he already told UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, namely that India was ready to support Iraq's reconstruction and ensure that elections are held in January.

The Prime Minister briefly mentioned the conflict with Pakistan over Kashmir saying "I reaffirm our determination to carry forward this dialogue to a purposeful and mutually acceptable conclusion." The Indian Prime Minister will meet today the Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in a New York hotel.

Many analysts agree that relations between the countries have been improving. In his speech at the UN Musharraf himself used a more moderate in talking about the dispute.

Singh, a former finance minister, also spoke to top corporate chiefs at the New York Stock Exchange. For many this initiative signals India's interest in attracting foreign investors and opening its domestic markets to the outside world.

India is ready to join the global market, but to do so it needs capital for infrastructural development and the support of the "world economic engine", i.e. the US. (NC)

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